By Eric Holdeman Microsoft Disaster Response’s chief technology officer discusses the use of tech in emergency response. Technology is beginning to dominate many aspects of the emergency management profession. This is particularly evident during disaster response. Today we have a number of large technology companies that offer their software or services for larger scale […]

USGS image illustrates maximum current speeds in knots for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach generated during a tsunami scenario. With the 50th anniversary of the devastating tsunami that killed a dozen people in Crescent City approaching, state and federal agencies have teamed up to create a preparedness playbook for each of […]

Serious barriers continue to jeopardize the well-being of people with disabilities in the wake of disasters and in other emergency situations, a new federal report finds. Problems with emergency communications systems are rampant including everything from evacuation maps and websites that are inaccessible to alerts featuring language that is unclear for individuals with intellectual […]

No, it’s not your imagination: The Los Angeles area is feeling more earthquakes this year. After a relatively quiet period of seismic activity in the Los Angeles area, the last five months have been marked by five earthquakes larger than 4.0. That hasn’t occurred since 1994, the year of the destructive Northridge earthquake that […]

Western drought raising fire danger concerns SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Drought conditions and early-season wildfires in the west have gained the attention of emergency managers on Capitol Hill. On Thursday the Senate Subcommittee on Emergency Management scheduled a briefing titled “Wildfires: Assessing First Responder Training and Capabilities” to evaluate the preparedness. Firefighters in Northern California […]